Father Jack McClure C.PP.S, who will serve as new pastor, and Father Matthew Link C.PP.S, who will serve as parochial vicar at The Castro‘s Most Holy Redeemer Parish, has a well-intentioned, but mixed track record with regards to LGBT ministry. One of Fr. McClure’s former assignments was as associate pastor (2010-2011) at St. Thomas Aquinas Church and Catholic Student Center in Ames, Iowa. In 2010, while in residence, he revived a gay-straight student alliance called Belonging. According to their mission statement: “Belonging seeks to create a space for LGBT people, their families, and allies, so they may feel welcomed at St. Thomas Aquinas. We act as a point of entry to St. Thomas Aquinas and the Catholic Church for LGBT people and, thus, provide a way to bring in new and returning people, their skills and talents, to the parish and Church.” Neither in their literature, nor in the list of books and DVDs that they recommend, could I find any mention of chastity. However, there is large selection of letters from members and supporters. Here are some excerpts:
“Little by little society is coming to realize that homosexuality is not an illness as it was viewed in past decades, nor a sinful way of life (not a Old Testament abomination), but an identity. Individuals in all walks of life – students, caregivers, teachers, doctors, lawyers, clergy - are choosing to come forth to claim their identity, which gives courage to others to do the same. The stigma is slowly diminishing in society, but not at all in the institution of the Catholic Church. A friend once asked me, “How can you remain a Catholic given the attitude of the church regarding homosexuality?” I ponder this myself.”
“I really like being Catholic, but I know many people have left the church because of the stance on gay people. I really struggled because for a while, I felt like I couldn't completely be happy for my friends or be completely Catholic, but I wanted to be both. I decided that being Catholic is who I am even if sometimes I may not ascribe to all the beliefs I'm supposed to. It's who I am.”
“If the Catholic Church were a welcoming place for LGBT people, I probably never would have left. What I would like for Catholics to understand is how difficult of a choice Catholic doctrine really does force LGBT Catholics to make. Many choose to do exactly what I did, which is to reject their faith entirely. This is sad, because it leaves those former Catholics without any community to sustain them. It also needlessly deprives Catholic communities of some of their most vibrant and creative members. Of course, those who choose to remain also pay a heavy price in terms of guilt, or of shutting themselves off completely from the experience of love and affection that should be a part of life for us all. I hope that someday the church is able to revise its doctrines so that the LGBT Catholics of tomorrow do not have to make this sort of choice.”
Author’s note: While incredibly moving and heart-wrenching, are these letters of disobedience, confusion, and escape from the “guilt” of Catholicism, truly the face that we want to present to our gay brothers and sisters? Where are the wonderful stories of suffering, strength, and joy that are numerous on the couragerc.org web-site?